it." The addition of Simon certainly boosts Saskatch

Michael van Gerwen is the new leader of the Premier League and three players are facing a shoot-out for the last remaining play-off place. The world No 1 replaced Phil Taylor at the top of the table after an impressive 7-1 victory over James Wade on night 13 in Birmingham, which followed an opening defeat for The Power by Peter Wright.Van Gerwen assured his spot at the season-ending play-offs and Gary Anderson has virtually qualified in third place, but Adrian Lewis, James Wade and Wright are all scrapping for the final spot at The O2. MVG is MVP Michael van Gerwen only missed two darts at a double The Dutchman again underlined his status as the sports finest player after his ruthless win over Wade.He succeeded with seven out of nine darts at a double, while Wade was only afforded two darts at a finish, and wore a look of disbelief. MVG is back on top of the Premier League Speaking afterwards, Van Gerwen could not contain his delight about knocking Taylor off the summit, and the pair will renew their rivalry in Rotterdam on the closing night of the regular campaign.Nearly all Wright Peter Wright can still snatch fourth place in the table Snakebite admitted beforehand that he needed maximum points from his two matches to revive his play-off hopes and so nearly achieved this target.He only missed one double in a season-best 7-4 win over Taylor and then appeared to have Anderson on the rack when he had three darts at a double to move 6-5 up. Wright and Gary Anderson shared the points Wright would miss all three, allowing Anderson to pinch the leg, but the man with the multi-coloured mohican hit back to claim a 6-6 draw and could still squeeze into the last four. Play-off permutations James Wade can still qualify for the play-offs despite loss to Van Gerwen With just two matches remaining, Lewis, Wade and Wright will be keeping an eye on each others results as they try to snatch a place at The O2.Lewis needs only a point, but is facing daunting fixtures against his old mentor Taylor and defending champion Anderson. Remaining PL fixtures Adrian Lewis Night 14: Phil Taylor Night 15: Gary Anderson James Wade Night 14: Peter Wright Night 15 Robert Thornton Peter Wright Night 14: James Wade Night 15: R van Barneveld Wright and Wade meet next week and a win for either man could keep alive their play-off hopes ahead of the closing night of the regular campaign.Barney a beaten man Raymond van Barneveld was forced to give up on his bid to reach The O2 There will be no late charge from Raymond van Barneveld, who cannot qualify for the top four after a frustrating 7-5 defeat to Anderson. Barney fired in a superb 132 checkout while opening a 5-4 lead, but five missed darts at a double opened the door for Anderson. Van Barneveld hits a bullseye check out against Anderson Yet again, the Dutchman had allowed a result to slip away, and last years semi-finalist will look back on this campaign with regret. Ando on the up Anderson is hoping to collect back-to-back titles Andersons title defence is set to continue into the play-off night after three points from his two matches all but assured his attendance in London.The reigning world champion has not produced a consistent high standard during the season which started late due to his illness. Anderson took good for Van Barneveld But he also finished third last year and comes alive on the big stage, beating Van Gerwen in last years final to land the trophy. Also See: Mighty MVG overtakes Taylor WATCH: Barneys brilliant 132 Premier League darts recap Prem Table Wholesale Womens Nike Air VaporMax Plus White/White-Total Crimson-Light Menta AO4550-100 . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. Wholesale Womens Nike Air VaporMax 97 Jogging Metallic Cashmere/Team Red-Black-White AO4542-900 .com) - The Calgary Flames aim to bounce back from their first regulation home loss of the campaign on Friday night when they host a Detroit Red Wings club that they swept in three meetings a season ago. http://www.wholesalevapormaxplus.com/vapormax-plus.html . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. Wholesale Womens Nike Air VaporMax Plus Pink/Orange/Black AO4550-004 . You can watch the game live on TSN at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. The Flyers had won seven of eight before dropping their last two outings on consecutive days over the weekend. Philadelphia was handed a 6-3 loss by the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday afternoon before dropping a 4-1 decision to the Rangers the following night in New York City. Wholesale Womens Nike Air VaporMax Plus Black-Bleached Aqua-Vivid Sulfur AO4550-002 . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.Hosting the Grey Cup game was often the kiss of death for CFL teams. Prior to 2011, only three clubs had ever won it as the host city -- the 1994 B.C. Lions, 77 Montreal Alouettes and 72 Hamilton Tiger-Cats. But B.C. and the Toronto Argonauts have bucked that tradition with convincing Grey Cup victories in their home stadiums the past two seasons. This years Grey Cup will be played Nov. 24 at Mosaic Stadium. But recent history has convinced Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach Corey Chamblin that his team is destined to reap the benefits of home-field advantage playing the big game before its rabid fans. "If it was guaranteed like that, then Id start playing the 6-49 and find a pattern there," Chamblin said with a chuckle. "If I had to put a percentage on it, Id say Ive thought about that (continuing recent Grey Cup trend) maybe one per cent. "I honestly think it just happens that way, I dont think guys play with any extra juice or anything like that. Now, it would be great being at our house but I dont think about whats happened the last two years." The 2013 season kicks off Thursday night with Winnipeg hosting the Montreal Alouettes at Investors Group Field. The Bombers were scheduled to move into the new stadium last year but construction delays forced them to remain at Canad Inns Stadium. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats visit Toronto on Friday night to renew their long-standing rivalry. The Argonauts are scheduled to unfurl their 2012 championship banner prior to the contest. Later on Friday, the B.C. Lions are at Calgary in a rematch of last years West Division final won by the Stampeders. The Edmonton Eskimos host Saskatchewan on Saturday to cap the opening week. Saskatchewan last won the Grey Cup in 2007 but came agonizingly close in 2009 when Damon Duvals 33-yard field goal on the final play earned Montreal a 28-27 victory. Duval had missed from 43 yards out to seemingly give the Riders a 27-25 win, but a too many men penalty gave Duval a reprieve from 10 yards closer. The Riders will look to improve last years 8-10 record that left them third in the conference before losing a 36-30 semifinal decision to Calgary. GM Brendan Taman took steps in that direction this off-season, signing defensive back Dwight Anderson, linebackers Rey Williams and Tristan Black and defensive linemen John Chick and Ricky Foley as free agents while trading for defensive lineman Jermaine McElveen. But his biggest move was acquiring slotback Geroy Simon from B.C. in January. The six-foot, 198-pound Simon is the CFLs all-time receiving yards leader and needs just 29 catches to break Ben Cahoons league mark of 1,017 career receptions. "Theres definitely a sense of excitement around here with all the additions that have been made," said Foley, the top Canadian in Torontos 35-22 win over Calgary in the 100th Grey Cup last year. "As a veteran, I know you dont win the Grey Cup on paper and every team made moves in the off-season to put themselves in a position to win it. "But I think its known around the league what this team has done, the guys theyve brought in and what theyre trying to do and theyre making that push for the hometown Cup." Simon was a two-time Grey Cup champion and six-time all-star over 12 seasons in B.C. but missed five games last year with hamstring ailments. He finished with 54 catches for 700 yards and two TDs, the first time in 10 seasons Simon hadnt cracked the 1,000-yard receiving plateau. Saskatchewan is counting on the 37-year-old returning to form and taking some heat off speedy Weston Dressler (94 catches, 1,206 yards, 13 TDs). "Obviously, his on-field play speaks for itself," said Taman. "His value to our team on and off the field is going to be immense.dddddddddddd "Geroys got some points to prove to a lot of people he still can play so I think theres a lot of bonuses to doing it." The addition of Simon certainly boosts Saskatchewans experience level, but Chamblin said a successful squad needs a blend of veteran savvy and youth. "If I was a position coach, Id just take the younger guy because Id want to mould him my way," Chamblin said. "But as far as being a head coach, youve got to have a balance of both." Getting out of the West Division wont be easy for the Riders as B.C. (league-best 13-5 record last year) and Calgary (defending conference champions) both look strong. New Edmonton GM Ed Hervey takes over a team that despite its 7-11 record still made the playoffs last year. Meanwhile in Toronto, quarterback Ricky Ray and CFL MVP Chad Owens both return to help the Argos defend their title. But gone are defensive linemen Foley, Ron Flemons and Kevin Huntley (both released), Armondo Armstead (New England Patriots, NFL) and Adriano Belli (retired), linebackers Black and Ejiro Kuale (free agent, Montreal), defensive backs Jordan Younger (retired), Pacino Horne (released) and Evan McCollough (free agent, Hamilton) and kicker/punter Noel Prefontaine (released). Two East Division clubs will sport new head coaches in 2013. Kent Austin, who guided Saskatchewan to its 07 title, returns to the CFL sidelines with Hamilton while Dan Hawkins takes over in Montreal. Austin takes over a Tiger-Cats squad that finished tied with Winnipeg with a league-worst 6-12 record. Austin, a Grey Cup champion as a player, assistant coach and head coach, faces two big challenges with the Ticats. Theyre minus big-play receiver Chris Williams, who remains embroiled in a bitter contract dispute, and must play their home games in Guelph, Ont., while a new facility is being built where venerable Ivor Wynne Stadium once stood. The Ticats are scheduled to move into the new stadium, which will host the 2015 Pam American Games soccer competition, next season. Hawkins, 52, begins his first season in Canada with huge shoes to fill. He replaces Marc Trestman, who guided Montreal to a 59-31 regular-season record and two Grey Cup titles in five years before becoming the Chicago Bears head coach. Hawkins spent the last two seasons as a college football analyst at ESPN but possesses an extensive NCAA coaching resume. He has little familiarity with three-down football, but Trestman also had no previous CFL coaching experience when he arrived in Montreal. Fortunately for Hawkins, quarterback Anthony Calvillo, 40, returns for a 20th CFL season. Pro footballs all-time passing leader flourished under Trestman, winning two Grey Cups and two CFL outstanding player awards while being named a league all-star three times over their five seasons together. But Calvillo isnt the leagues oldest player. That distinction belongs to B.C. kicker Paul McCallum, 43, who is gearing up for his 20th CFL campaign. Ironically, with Ottawa slated to return to the CFL next season, McCallum is the lone remaining active player to have played for the former Rough Riders franchise, which folded in 1996. The CFL wont have RONA as a national sponsor this year and Scotiabank is scheduled to leave at seasons end. But its new TV deal should soften the blow. League sources say the CFLs five-year agreement with TSN/RDS is worth about $43 million annually, almost triple the existing deal which expires at seasons end. This years 77 league games (72 regular season, four playoff and Grey Cup) will be televised. The 2014 broadcast schedule will expand to 84 contests with Ottawas expected return. ' ' '